Yeah, I realize it's a cultural thing, but I still think it sucks. I find receiving a Starbucks gift card much less thoughtful than a greetings card, with or without a banknote included.
The worst are these Visa/Mastercard gift cards that are popular in the US: Often horrendously expensive to the buyer and cash-equivalent to the receiver at best, and broken or scammed and causing them further frustration and possibly monetary losses at worst.
When my parents came to visit me in the US I bought them a starbucks card and that was the coolest gift lol, they could stroll around and stop at starbucks whenever
Now imagine, if you will, a universal economic gift card, backed by the government, accepted throughout the country and beyond, even if both buyer and seller are offline... :)
The worst are these Visa/Mastercard gift cards that are popular in the US: Often horrendously expensive to the buyer and cash-equivalent to the receiver at best, and broken or scammed and causing them further frustration and possibly monetary losses at worst.